Padma Shri Kamala Pujari Allegedly Forced To Dance In Cuttack Hospital, Probe Underway

Members of the Paraja tribal community in Odisha have called for action against a social worker who allegedly forced its icon, Padma Shri awardee Kamala Pujari, to dance inside a hospital in Cuttack before she was discharged.

The incident came to light after a viral video showed a female social activist dancing with Pujari to music being played in the background. Members of the Paraja Samaja condemned the incident alleging that the social worker forced Pujari to dance inside the ICU.

Following the issue, authorities of S.C.B. Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack ordered a probe by constituting an inquiry committee to look into the matter. The SCBMCH Administrative Officer Abinash Rout and Prof BK Behera are the members of the probe panel chaired by the Head of the Medicine department Prof Jayant Panda, reports The New Indian Express.

Kamala Pujari forced to dance in hospital

"I never wanted to dance but was forced to do it. I repeatedly denied, but she (Mamata Behera) did not listen. I was sick and got tired,”  Pujari told television channels in Koraput district from where she hails.

Condemning the incident, Kadambini Tripathy, chairperson of Maa Ghara, Nabarangpur questioned how camera was allowed inside the ICU.

“In a place like ICU, where cameras are not allowed, shooting video and making reels is not supposed to be done. Besides, circulating the video for garnering attention or whatever reason may be also not good,” said Tripathy.

Harish Muduli, president of the tribal community's association 'Paraja Samaja', said its members will hit the streets and protest if the state government fails to take action against the social worker.

“We will summon sisters, attendants and the social activist who had accompanied Pujari from Koraput to SCBMCH for interrogation. After inquiry we will submit the reports to the hospital Superintendent,” said Prof Panda.

Pujari, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 2019 for promoting organic farming and preserving over 100 varieties of indigenous seeds of different crops including paddy, was admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack with kidney problems. She was discharged on August 29.

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